Blue Blood Battle? Duke Great Thinks 5-Star Transfer Is Playing UNC for Positioning
The ongoing transfer portal saga continues to unfold, and now a Duke basketball legend is stirring the pot with some bold accusations.
In a recent interview, Duke great Grant Hill weighed in on the rapidly changing dynamics of college basketball and the transfer portal, specifically focusing on the recent decisions of one of the nation’s top high school recruits, Cameron Rivers, who has been making headlines with his cryptic interactions with North Carolina. Rivers, a 5-star point guard and one of the top prospects of the 2025 class, is rumored to be leveraging his interest in UNC as a strategic move in his recruitment process.
Hill, a two-time NCAA champion and current NBA analyst, expressed his concerns about the growing trend of players using high-profile programs like UNC to raise their stock, especially when a school like Duke has been consistently dominating the recruiting battles. According to Hill, Rivers’ overt interest in Carolina may be less about a genuine desire to play for the Tar Heels and more about leveraging the power of the UNC brand to enhance his options.
“I think this is a classic case of someone using the leverage of a blue-blood program to push his position,” Hill said during an appearance on Inside College Hoops. “The kid’s talented, there’s no doubt about that. But let’s be honest — when you’re looking at a program like UNC, with all its history, the buzz it creates can drive up your value as a recruit or a transfer. It’s a chess move, not necessarily a basketball decision.”
The UNC-Duke Rivalry Heats Up
Rivers has kept everyone guessing, dropping cryptic posts on social media hinting at his love for both Duke and UNC. His high-profile status has made him a sought-after commodity, and while he hasn’t committed to any school yet, rumors swirl that the Tar Heels have become the center of his strategic planning.
“Rivers is playing both sides,” said ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas. “He knows that the more attention he can garner, the more power he has. If you can get a program like UNC involved, it raises the stakes.”
However, Duke fans have had enough of what they view as another case of a recruit playing the system. Hill’s comments reflect the growing frustration within the Blue Devils’ community, who have watched in recent years as rivals like UNC and Kentucky have thrived in the recruiting wars, sometimes with players who appear to be using these institutions for leverage.
“It’s frustrating to see, honestly,” Hill continued. “Duke has built an incredible brand under Coach K and now with Jon Scheyer, and for a player like Rivers to possibly be more concerned with using UNC for attention than finding the right fit at a program, it takes away from the purity of the college game.”
Is the Transfer Portal Changing the Game?
The growing influence of the transfer portal has only added fuel to the fire. With many top recruits and players now viewing their college choices as temporary stops in their pursuit of NBA dreams, the strategic use of leverage — whether through schools like UNC or Duke — is becoming more common.
As college basketball evolves, top-tier recruits like Rivers are becoming more savvy about their decision-making. Their decisions are about more than just fit; they’re about maximizing exposure, media attention, and increasing their marketability — factors that will play into future endorsement deals and their professional prospects.
However, Hill remains cautious about this trend, especially as a former Blue Devil who understands the significance of team-first basketball.
“Using a school for leverage might get you more Instagram followers or bigger brand deals, but it’s not going to build the foundation for a successful college career,” Hill stated. “Basketball at the highest level requires discipline, trust, and hard work, not just playing the game of positioning.”
What’s Next for Cameron Rivers?
As for Rivers, it remains unclear where he’ll end up. His decision will likely hinge on more than just the allure of a blue-blood program. Still, the ongoing back-and-forth with UNC is a sign that the power of college basketball’s elite programs is being used in new ways — and that strategy will likely be a major factor in how the 2025 recruiting class unfolds.
With the national spotlight squarely on him, Rivers has the chance to reshape the recruiting narrative — for better or for worse. And as the Duke-UNC rivalry continues to intensify, the fallout from his decision could impact the futur
e of college basketball itself.
